Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-09-03
How 1t May Be Prolonged Beyond tho
Average Length-Centenarians,

How 1t May Be Prolonged Beyond tho
Average MISREPRESENTATION.
I have before me the records of no less
than fifty-twO cen%tenarians, the details
in regard to whom have been collected by
a committee of the British Medical associ-
alton. Let us see whether an inquiry into
these details suggests anything either as
to what are, probably, the natural limits
of human life, or as to the regimen by
which life may be prolonged beyond its
average length.
Of the fifty-two no fewer than thirty
six more than two-thirds) are women.
This may probably be attributed in large
part to the comparative immunity that
women enjoy from many risks to which
men are exposed, but probably it is due
not less to their greater temperance and
to their freedom from the ~anxieties and
hea~rtburnings which attend mems strug-
giles for influence, n even maintenance.
Medical men contend, however, that
women also possess greater inherent vital
/ lty than men, the mortality of girls being
less than that of boys, even during the
first year Of life, when the female is
neither more temperate nor less ambi-
tious than the male, and is exposed to as
many dangers.
OF the sixteen men one only was single;
ten OF the hirty-six women were single;
fifteen men and twenty-six women, then,
among the ~centenarians, were married;
but, naturally enough, of these forty-one
q large number, all in fact but five, were
widowed. Three of the ffty-two were
rich, nineteen poor, the rest in comfort
able circumstances, nine were fat (only
one mani, t~wenty-three lean, eighteen
medium; only eight were full blooded; the
rest average or pale. Forty had coed
digestion, which, after 100 years, means q
good deal. Most of the fifty-two have had
good appetites, only two having appetites
classed as actually bad; most of them have
been through life moderate eaters; twelve,
however, have eaten large quantities of
food. Only n is returned as a large
eater of flesh and blood, and only one as a
great consumer of alcoholic liquors lin his
case the liquor preferred has been beer.
Only eight Of all the number are classified
as simply %"irritable;;" but to these must
be added five classed as Irritable and
energetic"
Unfortunately, however, the inquiries
have not in such matters as these been ex-
tended into the past. A man or woman
may be very irritable in extreme old
age (and we may call 100 a good old
age, even here when I an striving to show
that it is the natural limit of LIFE who has
been very placid and even extremely ami
able throughout the greater part of his or
her career.
AS to smoking, thirty-two are non
smoking, seventeen smoke much -four of
them are women), three moderately, and
two a little; only one chews; thirty-seven
avoid snuff. Most of the remaining re-
turns, relating only to the actual condi
ton of the ffty-two centenarians, at pres
emit, are of no special interest, showing
only that the same weaknesses prevail in
about the same degree among them, as
many men and women of the average
sort, between 20 and 80 years old. If
only our ffty-two c%entenarians could have
been examined twenty years ago in these
respects, the world might have obtained
some useful hints. 1t is worthy of notice,
however, that most of them were free
from rheumatic and equity troubles. The
only man whose joints were stiff and
deformed from such causes stated, in
reply to questions rs to his capacity
and taste for strong drink. 81 always
drank as much as I could, and l always
wilI'-not a case, it will be observed, Of
'Wilful will to water so Willful must
wet" but of Willful would not to water
and so wet his whistle to his own discc,n-
fort.-Richard A. Proctor in The Coslno-
n01itan.